Friends and taxpayers of Haines, where does accountability start? The borough of Haines spent over $200,000 of taxpayers’ money in an 11-month period for legal services. Their legal fees (with the free services offered by past borough assembly member Deborah Vogt) spent close to $100,000 to deprive me of my livelihood. This was done to save the tour businesses in Haines from an unscrupulous tour operator (who, by the way, has been in the tour business for over 35 years and run successful tours in Washington state, Arizona and Alaska and has tour permits with Alaska State Parks, the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service and a perfect record with the U.S. Coast Guard.) I have thrived in the tour business in Southeast Alaska but in Haines I would have a better chance of getting a tour permit in Iran to view their nuclear plants. At least Iran released one of our own. ECO/Orca is still held hostage in Haines! I do appreciate another opportunity to do business in Haines. Why not negotiate? Always up!
Capt. Dave Button